Lifelong parenting n． taking care of one’s adult children， especially those who show no desire to live on their own

    Also： life－long parenting．

    Example：

    An increasing number of young adults are moving back into their parents’homes after they have supposedly flown the nest． Soaring(不断上涨的） property prices， combined with unprecedented levels of relationship breakdown and greater career instability（不稳定）， mean that offspring（儿女）aged 20 to 30 are now returning to live with their parents more often and staying longer when they get there． Almost one in four of this age group is now living with parents， according to a study published today by the Social Market Foundation． The trend has given rise to a new phenomenon the report termed（称为） “lifelong parenting”． It is being supported by a change of attitude in young adults in which living with Mum and Dad is no longer seen as a source of ridicule（嘲笑）． More than half of adult children living with their parents said they were perfectly happy to do so．

    Earliest example：

    “One of the reasons we choose dogs as pets that there appears to be in their attachment（依恋）for an altruistic（无私心的） love， a willingness to please another without outward reward,” Fugal writes． “But we also choose them because we are helplessly programmed to do so．” In a recent interview（采访）， he expanded on the thought:“Humans are programmed for lifelong parenting． And pets don't hesitate to take advantage of this need in us．”